Multiple glazing unit and mounting therefor



G. B. WATKINS Aug.' 7, 1945.

MULTIPLE GLAZING UNIT AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed.0ct. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l l K I i\ 3nventor GEOKGE 5. Mrmxvs.

(lttorneg Aug. 7, 1945. G. B. WATKINS MULTIPLE GLAZING UNIT AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Oct. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

I/llIII/IIIIIIA -a-na 'IIIIIIIIII Gttomeg also to the glass sheets 22 and 23 respectively to provide a unitary structure. 'Theglass sheets .22 and 22 may'consist of ordinary plateor'window glass and may be either fully tempered or semi-tempered or any desired plastic of the desired thickness-or it may be built up of a plural ty of relatively thin sheets,

layers or films to give the required thickness. By way of example, each plastic membrane 25 and may be made up of three relatively thin sheets of thermoplastic, with each individual sheet being approximately .015 of an inch thick. When the thin sheets of plastic forming the membranes 2-! and 28 are bonded to one an-.

other and to the central'sheet 24 there will of course be provided a thermoplastic interlayer of laminated or multi-ply structure.

The plastic sheets. forming the interlayer may be .formed of a polyvinyl acetal resin and one such resin which has been used is polyvinyl butyr acetal resin plasticized with 37% parts dibutyl sebacate per 100 parts of resin by 'weight. However, diiferent plastics varying in thickness and physical eharacteristics may be employed as the invention is not limited to the use of any particular resin, class of the like. w

Carried by the plastic interlayer of transparent panel ii at each edge thereof is a relatively thin flexible. metal member 21 which projects outwardly beyond the respective edges of the glass sheets 22 and 22. As shown, the flexible metal members 21 have their inner marginal edge portions received between the two glass sheets 22 and 22 and .bonded thereto by the plastic mem-- branes 2i and 20. While the distance the metal 'members 21 extend inwardly of the glass edges may vary, for the average size light or pane adistance of approximately found satisfactory.

The metal members 21 may be of" steel, tin.

V4 inch has been thickness thereof may be varied. By way of example. it may be mentioned that when using aluminum. a-thickness of approximately .020 to' .030 bf an in h is satisfactory. An individual metal strip may be arranged at each edge of the panel It and left disconnectedat their adjacent ends or the adjacent ends thereof may be welded, soldered or. otherwise suitably secured together of the plastic membrane 2! is relatively greater than that of the glass sheets so that it projects outwardly beyond the edges of said sheets, as indicated at 28', and covers the outer faces of the metal strips21 to provide a combined metalplastic attaching flange A.

cellulosic derivatives or assmss be applied to the glass in any desired manner such as by spraying the molten metal thereon with a metallizing gun. The metallic coating 28 consistsof a relatively thin layer of solder applied to the coating 22 and which aids in securing the metal separator strips II to said metallic coating 28. The separator strips ll may be of lead or other metal which can be readily soldered to the metallic coatings 2|.

' In order to prevent discoloration of the plastic will serve to protect the metallic coating 28.

In fabricating the glazing unit, the metal separator strips ll are flrst associated with the transparent panel II and Joined to the metallic coating 20 by solder flllets I0 and II which may be formed by the usual method. of running an ordinary solder Joint along the inner and outer sides of the separator strips. More particularly, this is done by drawing a hot iron along the edge of the separator strips and at the same time applying the desired amount of solder. The solder will not only adhere to,the separator strips but will likewise fuse or amalgamate with the layer of solder 29 on metallic coating 22 to form a strong, tight connection between the separator strips and glass sheet 20. The transparent panel II and separator means II are then assembled with transparent panel II in the manner shown in Fig. 4. That is to say, panel II is first sup- 40 ported horizontally with the flexibleenetal memaluminum, galvanized metal or the like, and the bers. 21 facing upwardly. The metal frame formed by the separator strips ll-is then slipped over the edges of the inner glass sheet 22 of panel l0 and secured to the flexible metal members 21 by a solder flllet 22 using a hot iron 32 or in any other desired manner.

When mounting the glazing unit above described, it is secured within the opening to be glazed by clamping the flexible metal-plastic attaching flange A only in a frame or to a support as distinguished from clamping the marginal edge portions of the transparent panels I! and I6, thereby giving to the mounting a certain flexibility or resiliency so that any twisting or weaving of the plane will be taken up by the metalplastic attaching flange instead of being transmitted directly to the laminated glass panels.

By way of example, the glazing unit is shown in Fig. 3 as being secured within a frame 34 by screws, bolts, or other suitable fastening elements 2B. The frame It may constitute a part of any window or windshield construction but will be herein referred to as forming part or the skin of' an airplane. {is shown, the screws (or bolts) The separatormeans I! for the transparent panels l8 and It comprises metal, stripe secured along one edge to the panel it through the intermediary of the metallic coatings 22 and 20 applied to'the glass sheet 20 and along the opp site edge to the. flexible metal members 21 carried "pass through the flexible metal members 21 and extended plastic 25' into'the skin 34 of the struction of the frame within which the glazing by panel 18. The metallic coatings may be 1.

produced from copper or an alloy of copper or other solderable metal or metal alloy andmay unit is mounted or Just how the attaching flange A might be secured therein. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a relatively small space or gap is left between the peripheral edges of the outer glass.

sheet 22 of transparent panel I6 and the inner edges of the frame 34 to permit the desired freedom of movement of the glazing unit relative to the frame without binding.

Since the flexible metal-plastic attaching flange A only is clamped in the frame 34, it will be apparentthat the glazing unit will be permitted a certain amount of floating movement to and fro in the opening due to the resiliency or yieldability of the metal and plastic. Because of this, the liability of breaking or shattering of the glass resulting from a weaving and twisting of the ship proper will be minimized. Also, because of the flexibility or yieldability of the attaching flange A, the glazing unit can be readily accommodated to certain irregularities in the supporting frame as well as to irregularities in the glazing unit itself at time of installation without placing any undue strain upon the glass. The glazing unit herein provided can be readily and quickly mounted within the frame or removed therefrom for replacement and, in addition, the use of heavy or bulky fasteners or holders for mounting the unit is avoided. In some cases, it may be found desirable to use sheets of relatively hard plastic in. place of the glass sheets.

By extending the plastic membrane 26 beyond the edges of the glass sheets 22 and 23 to cover the outer faces of the metal member 21 and in bonding the extended plastic to said metal members, it is possible to obtain those advantages resulting from both the flexibility and strength of the metal as well as the cushioning effect of the plastic which is disposed between the metal and frame 34. Thus, the plastiecoating on the metal serves as a asket material when mounted and also gives protection to the bond between the metal and plastic. Furthermore, the combining of the metal members 21 with the extended plastic serves to uniformly distribute the weight of the glazing unit as well as the strain placed thereon and to minimize tearing or deformation of the extended portion of the plastic. The use of the metal members with the extended plastic is also of importance in that the metal does not fatigue or elongate when subjected to alternate waves of pressure.

Another important feature of this type of glazing unit and mounting therefor is that there is provided a so-called flush type of installation which is of particular advantage when used in airplanes. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, the outer surface of the outer glass sheet 22 of transparent panel I6 is flush with the outer surface of the skin 34 of the plane so as not to break the streamlined surfaces'of the plane whereby wind resistance is materially reduced.

This type of glazing unit is also suitable for use in glazing stratosphere planes in which pressurized cabins or other compartments are provided to obviate the necessity for each occupant of the plane having an individual oxygen supply. When the unit is glazed in a stratosphere plane where a difference in pressure exists between, one side and the other of the unit, the said unit will be permitted to move freely inwardly or outwardly relative to the supporting frame depending p n th differential in pressure.

In Figs. 6 to is illustrated a modified type of multiple glazing unit embodying all of the principal features of this invention. In this form of theinvention, the glazing unit comprises the two transparent panels 36 and 31 spaced from one another to provide an insulating space 38 therebetween and secured together around their edges I6 by the metal separator means 39. The transparent panel 36 consists of a single sheet or plate of glass or a sheet of relatively hard transparent plastic. The transparent panel 31 consists of a sheet of laminated safety glass comprising the two sheets of glass 40 and 4| having interposed therebetween a plastic interlayer composed of a central sheet or core 42 faced on opposite sides with the plastic membranes 43 and 44 bonded to the central sheet 42 and to the glass sheets 49 and 4| respectively. In this type of unit. both plastic membranes 43 and 44 extend beyond the edges of the glass sheets 40 and 4t and cover both faces of the flexible metal strips 45 to form a laminated metal-plastic attaching flange B. The separator means 39 comprises a metal channel member (Fig. 10) arranged at each edge of the unit and comprising a fiat base portion 43 and the two outwardly projecting legs 41 and 49; the leg 48 being relatively longer than leg 41.

In securing the panels 36 and 31 together, the legs 41 of the metal separators are disposed opposite the inner face of the panel 36 and secured thereto by screws or the like 49; a strip of plastic 60 being preferably interposed between the metal and glass. The base portions 46 of the channel members engage the peripheral edges of the inner glass sheet 4| of panel 31, while the legs 48 engage the inner surface of the attaching flange A and are secured thereto by screws or the like 5|. The adjacent ends of the metal channel members are mitered as at 53 and may be left disconnected or secured together as preferred. The separator means 39 may be formed of the sam metal as the a metal members 45. In Fig. 9, the unit is shown as being associated with the skin 52 of an airplane and the screws 5| may be sufliciently long to extend entirely through the attaching flange A and into the skin of the ship or separate screws may be provided for this purpose.

If desired, the air within the space 38 between the two panels 36 and 37 may be removed to create a vacuum therein or dehydrated air may be introduced into said space. For this purpose there may be provided in one or more of the metal separator members 39 a valve 53.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another, a flexible metal member carried by one of said panels and projecting outwardly beyond the edges thereof to provide an attaching flange, aametallic coating on the other panel, and metal separator means arranged between the panels at the edges thereof and being soldered to the flexible metal member of the one panel and to the metallic coating on the other panel.

2. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another, one of said panels including a plurality of laminations secured together, a flexible metal'member perma= nently carried by one of the laminations of said panel and projecting outwardly beyond the edges of adjacent laminations to provide an attaching flange, and metal separator means arranged between the panels at the edges thereof and being soldered to the flexible metal member of the one panel and soldered directly to the other panel.

3. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another, one of said panels including two outer sheets of a relatively hard material and an inner sheet of thermoplastic bonded to said outer sheets, a flexible metal member carried by and forming an integral part of the thermoplastic sheet of said panel and projecting outwardly beyond the edges of said outer sheets to provide an attaching flange, a metallic coating on the other panel, and metal separator means arranged between the panels at the edges thereof and being soldered to the flexible metal member of the one panel and to the coating on the other panel.

4. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another, one of said panels comprising two sheets of glass and an interposed layer of thermoplastic adherent thereto, a flexible metal member permanently carried by the plastic interlayer of said panel and having a portion projecting outwardly beyond the edges of the glass sheets to provide an attaching flange, and metal separator means arranged between the panels around the edges thereof and being soldered to the projecting portion of the flexible metal member of the one panel and soldered directly to the other panel.

5. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another, one of said panels comprising two sheets of glass and an interposed layer of thermoplastic adherent thereto, a flexible metal member permanently carried by the plastic interlayer of said panel and having a portion thereof received between the glass sheets and another portion projecting outwardly beyond the edges of said sheets to provide an attaching flange, and metal separator means arranged between the panels around the edges thereof and being soldered to the projecting portion of the flexible metal member of the one panel and soldered directly to the other panel.

6. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another, one of said panels comprising two sheets of glass and an interposed layer of thermoplastic adherent thereto, a flexible metal member permanently carried by the plastic interlayer of said panel and having a portion thereof received between the glass sheets and another portion projecting outwardly beyond the edges of said sheets to provide an attaching flange, said plastic interlayer also extending beyond the edges of the glass sheets and covering the outer surface of said flexible metal member, and metal separator means arranged between the panels around the edges thereof and being soldered to the outwardly projecting portion of the flexible metal member of the one panel and soldered directly to the other panel.

7. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another; one of said panels comprising two sheets of glass and an interposed layer of thermoplastic adherent thereto, a flexible metal member permanently carried by the plastic interlayer of said panel and having a portion projecting outwardly beyond the edges of the glass sheets to provide an attaching flange, said plastic interlayer also extending beyond the edges of the glass sheets and covering the outer surface only of said flexible metal member, and metal separator means arranged between the panels around the edges thereof and being soldered to the flexible metal member of the one panel and soldered directly to the other panel.

8. A multiple glazing unit, comprising a pair of transparent panels arranged in face to face relation and spaced from one another, the area of one of said panels being relatively greater than the other so that said first-mentioned panel extends outwardly beyond the edges of said secondmentioned panel, a metallic coating on one face of the first-mentioned panel, a flexible metal member carried by the second-mentioned panel and extending outwardly beyond the edges thereof to provide an attaching flange, and metal separator means arranged between the panels at the edges thereof and being soldered to the flexible metal member of said second-mentioned panel and soldered to the metallic coating on the face of said first-mentioned panel.

GEOFjGE B. WATKINS. 

